5 Sizzling Hot Cape Town Inner-City Restaurants to Add to Your Foodie Bucket List

Paige has just completed her Honours in Media Theory and…

It’s no secret that Cape Town is practically brimming with dining out options, and it can be overwhelming to narrow them down. Here’s a guide to 5 of the hottest inner-city restaurants in Cape Town to add to your to-do list!

With a robust food scene, Cape Town offers locals and tourists a vast variety of restaurant options to choose from. From cafés to Asian-inspired tapas, fine dining to sushi joints, all your food dreams can come true in the Mother City. Not so sure? The proof is in the pudding at these 5 unique inner-city restaurants.

1. Giulio’s Café

This oh-so-Instagrammable café in the City Centre offers the perfect backdrop for a hearty meal. The breakfast menu boasts a wide range of dishes from creamy mushrooms on toast to Nonna’s eggs — a silky Parmesan scramble on a freshly-baked croissant. Lunch faves include simple but scrumptious pizzas, pastas and calzones inspired by the flavours of Naples. The menu also features salads along with Banting and gluten-free options for carb-conscious diners, as well as a variety of interesting warm drinks, pastries and desserts to end off with.

Click here for more information on Giulio’s Café.

2. Tjing Tjing Torii

Tjing Tjing’s three-story dinning experience offers something for everyone. Boasting a brand new look and feel along with a modern Japanese street food-style menu, Tjing Tjing Torii is officially the new restaurant all the cool kids are talking about. The menu is oh-so-exciting, offering the likes of traditional Japanese brunch with tamago, bento boxes, sando boxes, gyoza, yakitori and ramen, all with a signature Tjing Tjing twist.

We reviewed the new Tjing Tjing Torii — click here to read our full review on this hot restaurant.

3. The Shortmarket Club

With high ceilings and comfy booths, this contemporary joint offers a unique, jazzy dining experience, For something different, the Crispy Pig Cheek served with umami XO-braised quinoa is perfectly balanced and the ultimate way to start your meal. For mains you’ll be tempted by ‘The pasta dish’ with oxtail ragù or one of the delicious cuts of meat on display. Finish off with a Lavender and Mozzarella Crème Brûlée or a decadent ice cream fondant. And the best news? The restaurant offers some great weekday lunch specials to spoil those who work in the inner city!

For more information on The Shortmarket Club click here.

Win: We’re Giving Away Tickets to the Maslow Sip & Paint Mother’s Day Brunch

4. Marrow

From the people who brought you the Secret Gin Bar and Honest Chocolate, comes Marrow, a broth bar serving a small menu of wholesome, healthy dishes. Simply choose your broth and, depending on how hungry you are, decide if you’d like it in a small cup or in a bowl with toppings. The clear bone broth is made with soy, miso paste and sesame oil (served with roast chicken and chorizo toppings) and the vegan white broth with coconut milk, veggie broth, lemongrass and miso (with a topping of roast aubergine). The vibrant green broth includes dashi, parsley and kombu (served with steamed angelfish and broccoli as a topping); and the decadent brown broth contains red wine, gochujang and harissa paste (served with a tender venison topping).

For more information on Marrow click here.

5. Tomo

Loop Street’s new Japanese restaurant, Tomo, boasts a traditional menu with a twist. To start your meal, you’ll be served a complimentary cup of Jasmine tea. Following this, think sushi faves like Reloaded Rolls, crunch rolls and tempura, as well as more hearty dishes like miso soup with tofu and seaweed.For mains, the teppanyaki selection and dumplings, or the tempura udon bowl with giant prawns are good options. Can’t decide? The bento box is filled with a bunch of different dishes to give you a little taste of everything — it might include tuna sashimi, fried chicken, teriyaki salmon, omelette roll and fresh fruit amongst other nibbles. Dessert includes two frozen delights: green tea ice cream black sesame ice cream.